Jean-Laurent Kercadó (4th Great Grandfather) 1771–1851 (17 lugl 1771 anni – 1 gen 1851 anni)

Descrizione:

Viscount Jean-Baptiste-Laurent-Léger, the Sénéchal of Kercadó. 17 July 1771
Croix des Bouquets, Ouest, Haiti. Died in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.

A "refugee from San Domingo"(1), Jean Lawrence (as he was known in North America) was the "stem of the Kercados of Puerto Rico".

He Purchased Chalkley Hall in Frankford, Northern Liberties Twp, Philadelphia, PA in 1792 from Frederick Pigon of London, merchant by his attorneys, Henry Drinker and Thomas Stevenson, merchants of Philadelphia to Laurence John Leger Le Senechal de Kercado, Esq. late from Island of St. Domingo, French West Indies, now Philadelphia. Dated July 17, 1792.
It mentions 156 acres, Mansion House, buildings, outhouse, 2 acres on Frankford Creek for landing and more. Price 7,000 pounds.(2)

As an aside, the "Senechal" portion of Jean-Baptiste's name refers to a title of royal officer of in charge of provinces - likely meaning he was the royal steward of the Carcado/Kercado region of Brittany, France. These province's titles of Senechal-Kercado, Senechal-Molac and Senechal-Kerguise, date back to the mid-1200s. (3)

Jean-Laurent Kercado did not return to Haïti. He instead migrated to Puerto-Rico as "farmer in a plantation of the Duke of Crillon" (François Félix de Crillon, IV. Duke of Crillon, III. duc de Mahón(5); 3rd son of the duke of Crillon-Mahon, French general at the service of Spain, who had been given lands in Puerto-Rico by the King, in 1776, with permission to send foreign families to cultivate them). In 1792 the conditions were renegotiated and the duke was allowed to sell lands to solvent Catholic foreigners, residing in Spanish kingdoms. It was granted both the Duke and their settlers a period of four years for the start of the farms.

The Kercado and Le Doux families went together to Puerto Rico (they were close friends and in 1826 a "Madame Ledoux" signed for herself and for "M. Gustave de Kercado et de madame Nathalie de Solis" a petition concerning the indemnity due to the planters by the Government).

In 1796 Jean Laurent (John Lawrence) wrote to Alexander Hamilton (on behalf of George Washington) requesting safe passage to Haiti to sell his plantation and settle his affairs there. (7)

The governor don Ramon de Castro, given the warlike circumstances, did not allow them entry into the bay of San Juan (June 3, 1796) and they were forced to anchor in the island of Santo Tomas with their ship loaded with 59 slaves, free workers and their families, and more relevant agricultural ustensils. They corresponded with the Duke of Crillon-Mahon to overcome these difficulties.

Kercado and Ledoux not only requested to enter Puerto Rico, but the authorization to sell timber abroad from their plantation, plus 4000 beefs and 2000 mules to recover from the losses suffered consequent to the refusal of the governor Castro. They also asked authorization to establish a surgeon apothecary, doctor and a chaplain to say mass at their place.

These last requests were granted as well as selling timber, but not the one on cattle, despite the favorable report from the secretary of the Royal Treasury Don Francisco Saavedra, who defended these settlers, noting that they were not miserable upstarts in search of fortune, but wealthy individuals and practices in colonial works, who have capital and workers, which is very convenient for the agricultural development of Puerto Rico.

So they could establish themselves as settlers of the Duke of Crillon-Mahon and could acquire lands for their own account (Panorama historico de la agricultura en Puerto Rico). They did so, and Lorenzo bought one part of the Vergara Plantation (hacienda) in 1799 for 2,875 pesos and April 1, 1800 another plantation, probably of sugar cane, in Rio Piedras for 14,000 pesos thanks to a loan obtained from the American merchant Anthony Butler(6). He also bought the plantation San Francisco May 19, 1809 from Franvois Senac. The 1812 slaves conspiracy started in "Lorenzo de Kercado's hacienda". He is considered as a promoter of agricultural development in Puerto Rico.

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